A lot of well-known faces will be seen in different colors in the IPL 2025, and Deepak Chahar is among them, and most interesting is that he will turn up for his former franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), biggest rivals Mumbai Indians (MI).
The recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction changed all the dynamics, as Deepak Chahar was acquired by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 9.25 crore on the second and final day of the event.
Chahar had been a key player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from 2018 to 2024. Now, the Indian seamer is all set to play for another of the most successful franchises of the IPL—Mumbai Indians (MI)—in the next edition of the IPL.
Deepak Chahar to miss MS Dhoni, but ready to shine with Mumbai Indians
After the conclusion of the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Deepak Chahar shared his thoughts on leaving his old franchise and the upcoming season. Chahar admitted that he would definitely miss the legendary MS Dhoni, with whom he had built a strong bond over the years at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL.
Read Also: IPL Auction 2025: Revealed – Why Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw went unsold?
The transition to Mumbai will be a big change, but the star seamer sees it as an opportunity to make the most of Wankhede’s pitch, which suits his bowling style more than the spin-friendly surfaces of Chepauk.
Speaking about his move to Mumbai, Chahar mentioned that Chennai’s pitches offered plenty of assistance to spinners, but Mumbai’s tracks are more favorable to pacers like him.
He believes his skills will be more effective at Wankhede, where the conditions typically provide more bounce and swing for fast bowlers than Chepauk, so he is excited to sport blue and gold next season.
Unko kaun nahi miss karega: Deepak Chahar on MS Dhoni
Deepak Chahar told his former CSK teammate Suresh Rain on Jio Cinema: “Every time I talk to Rahul (Chahar), I say you are playing for the team I should be playing for, and I am playing for the team you should be playing for, skill-wise. Because in Chennai, there is help for the spinners and in Mumbai for pacers. He could not come to Chennai, but I am going to Mumbai. So, I will get that advantage.”
Notably, the leg-spinner Rahul Chahar was snapped up by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 3.2 crore at the mega auction. Meanwhile, Suresh Raina then asked Deepak, “Will you miss Dhoni bhai’? (Will you miss MS Dhoni?).”
To which, Chahar said, “Unko kaun nahi miss karega? (Who wouldn’t miss him?)”
— Devx_07 Media (@Devx_07_Media) November 25, 2024
Mumbai beats Chennai and Punjab to win bidding war for Deepak Chahar
Notably, the Mumbai Indians (MI) acquired Deepak Chahar after a tense bidding war during the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) initially joined the bidding but withdrew when the price hit INR 8 crore, leaving Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to battle it out on day two of the mega auction.
Chahar’s base price was INR 2 crore, with Mumbai placing the opening bid. Punjab entered at INR 2.2 crore, but once the price reached INR 7.5 crore, they pulled out. Chennai then joined the bidding, pushing the price up to INR 9 crore, before Mumbai ultimately sealed the deal at INR 9.25 crore.